Whatever the Marlins' ballpark is being called this week, I'm not there. I'm back in D.C. this weekend to attend a family member's bar mitzvah, so you won't be getting any firsthand accounts of this series. I will, however, attempt to watch Sunday's game on TV and share some insights along the way.

Two things you should pay close attention to in tonight's series opener: Zimmerman and Scott Olsen. Zimmerman is at last back in the starting lineup after sitting out seven games with a strained hamstring. It would appear the combination of time off and warm South Florida weather has allowed Zim to return to his regular duties.

Olsen, meanwhile, returns to the mound looking to build off his seven shutout innings from last weekend against the Dodgers. (For those who weren't aware, Olsen and Stammen have swapped spots in the rotation in an attempt to break up Olsen and fellow lefty John Lannan. Because of yesterday's day off, Olsen is still going on normal rest. Stammen will now go tomorrow on six days' rest.)

Enjoy the game. I'll put together another game thread tomorrow so everyone can discuss among themselves…

Welcome back Zimm!I like breaking up the lefties, Riggleman is always thinking.Did anyone see Sports Weekly this week, where Manny Acta said the Nationals were "wrong" to make Ryan Zimmerman the "Face of the Face of the Franchise" while being so young. I am so over Manny!

Olsen and Lannan are both left handed. When you start them back to back, you loss some of the advantage. Since their are far more right hander pitchers, starting left handers on consecutive days might not be the best idea.

Uh, the flip side is that he's wishing that they might have made that Adam Dunn style move a little bit earlier on in the Manny Acta, like Year One so that the team he had might have won enough games to get him a bit more success.He probably, with justificaiton, wishes that they had spent more on some additional players to take some pressure off Zim his second year rather than just letting Sori walk and not really spending to fill in the gap. Lerners kind of just pocketed the money got from not having Soriano instead of making the Dunn and Marquis moves of the last two years to help make us a little more competitive.

Yep. Guys like Mark would post it if he caught on some where. People are not willing to take on the baggage for a AAA player it seems. I'd be thinking about some independent ball if I were Dukes to further work on rehabilitating himself but he probably has some serious economic needs given his lifestyle and child support issues. Posted that I thought the Mariners should sign Dukes to a AAA contract. Got tremendous blowback from that fan at Japers' Rink. There's a lot of ill will towards him given his past.

Dukes told the baseball world a lot about himself by not playing winter ball and by showing up to camp still unable to deal with breaking pitches.He had a lot he needed to work on the be successful in the bigs, and he also had personal issues to deal with. He set his priorities (as he should) and decided what was the right thing for him to do.I really think that had a lot to do with why he was let go so abruptly. He knew what he needed to work on, he did not work on it, he came to camp, it was obvious he was not improved, cut him loose.There have been no reports of anyone offering him anything. Two years ago, only the Nats were willing to offer him a job. He did OK, the pitchers adjusted, his hitting regressed, his fielding never really improved.I would have thought by now someone would have offered him a minor league deal (he's younger than Taveras, Maxwell and Bernadina). But no one apparently has.

Breaking up lefties? Isn't that kind of like sending down Jesse English telling him its a strategic move and that they need him work. Then activating Ron Vilone another lefty, a guy English beat out for the opening day roster but someone Riggleman decided not to use? Vilone has pitched in two games in Syracuse. English has yet to pitch in a game. I expect Riggleman will call for Vilone in a week to 10 days requiring a roster move to put him on the 40-man. Even though he was clearly outmatched in ST but many others?Yep that's breaking up lefties in Riggleman's mind.

Great opposite field HR by Zim!!!"a guy English beat out for the opening day roster but someone Riggleman decided not to use?"a guy English beat out for the opening day roster however English was a guy Riggleman decided not to use?"Even though he was clearly outmatched in ST but many others?"Even though he was clearly outmatched in ST by many others?

Oh, I think Dunn just learned not to get too far from the bag so quickly … Desmond's throw was inside, but not necessarily too far for a stretch if Dunn is still on the bag.Although, to be fair, that would have been an insane play go pull off.